I am a woman in Washington, DC and I applied for a computer/technical type position at a growing company that specializes in said computer/technical type work. I went to the initial interviews and seemed to do great and was made to believe that I would most likely be hired for the position until I reached a brick wall at the CEO who treated me like a child and I could tell wasn't even listening to what I was saying. He spoke repeatedly about wanting someone who can "fit in with the guys around here". Despite the hiring manager's and the division managers excitement over my talents a week later I was told the position was given to someone else that I was told had "more experience". It was an "entry level" position that offered "full training" and I was originally told they were looking for someone with little to no experience. During my interview I took a tour of the small office. I saw about 20 employees all male, all white with the exception of one asian. A few months later I recieved a call from the hiring manager again offering me a position that he said was half computer/technical half "Division/Office Management" and that the position would require answering some phones. I told him I would be interested in it until I recieved the job description titled "Office Manager" that listed no technical job duties at all and appears that the main job duty is reception. Additionally they are offering me half of what a traditional Office Manager makes in this area. I now have insider information that the job I had originally applied for was given to a man with less experience than me. I feel that they would never have offered this kind of job to me if I was a man. I would never take this kind of nonsense but I really want to break into this field and would consider doing this kind of job if half of my time could be spent on technical work. I'm worried that even if I get them to put it in my contract they will somehow screw me out of it and will never offer me a position in the technical area. Please help!

Yes, you could be very well have been a victim of sex discrimination. As an employer with 20 employees, they are required to comply with the law. You may file a claim with the US EEOC against them.

Keep in mind, however, that your chances of being hired by this Company after filing a charge may be slim. The process for resolution is long...at the minimum, it takes 3 months or more. I'm sure that the employer will provide information that they believe will defend them...information that the EEOC will need to consider. If they lose the first time around, they will appeal, dragging this process out even further. If they are able to prove that they are not discriminatory in their hiring practices, you will be issued a "right to sue" letter. That "right to sue" letter is usually seen as a positive event for the employer in that case. That means that you will need to hire your own attorney to fight for you. Most attorneys will not take the case if the employer did not end up getting a "cause" finding. If one does, it will only be because you are going to pay him/her on a per hour basis, rather than a contingency basis.

I'm providing you this information so that you are fully aware of the efforts involved in filing a charge. While I'm certainly in favor of going after employers who are in the wrong, it is difficult for someone who is trying to make positive strides in his/her life, such as you with your job search. You may wish to pursue another employer who embraces diversity. That will keep your job search on a positive level. (I say that because, as a former corporate recruiter, I tended to shy away from people who were hung up on wrongs from their past. I only wanted to hire people who were enthusiastic and positive about my own company.)

Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best of luck. Let me know if you have any other questions.